Old Chapel (Millwood, Virginia) facts for kids
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Old Chapel
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Old Chapel, September 2012
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 Location in Northern Virginia
Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3 mi. N of Millwood off U.S. 340, Millwood, Virginia |
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| Area | 9.9 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1793 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73002004 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 2, 1973 |
Old Chapel is a very old Episcopal church building. It is located near Millwood in Clarke County, Virginia. This church is special because it is the oldest Episcopal church building still used today west of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Old Chapel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means it is a very important historical site. In 2014, the Chapel Rural Historic District was created. This district includes Old Chapel and many other historic buildings and a large area of land.
Contents
History of Old Chapel
In the 1700s, this church was known as Cunningham's Chapel. It was named after a nearby tavern. The tavern was located where two important roads met. One road went from Alexandria to Frederick, Maryland, and then to the Ohio River Valley. The other road went from Burwell's mill in Millwood.
The First Church Building
The first church building was made of logs. It was approved by the Virginia government in 1738. This log church was built between 1740 and 1750. It was part of a larger church area called Frederick Parish. This parish had several smaller churches called "chapels of ease." These were places where people could worship if they lived far from the main church.
The log church was repaired in 1762. However, it was destroyed during the American Revolutionary War.
The Current Building
The church building you see today was approved in 1790. It was finished around 1793. This church became very important to Bishop William Meade. He was a famous religious leader. Bishop Meade served as the priest here for 25 years. He even moved the main church office to Old Chapel.
Bishop Meade later helped build another church, Christ Church in Millwood. He hoped to be buried at Old Chapel. But he died in Richmond, Virginia. He was first buried there, and later moved to a cemetery in Alexandria.
The Cemetery at Old Chapel
There is also a historic cemetery at Old Chapel. The land for the cemetery was given by the Burwell family. Many important people are buried here. This includes Edmund Randolph, who was a founding father of the United States. He was also a governor of Virginia and the U.S. Attorney General.
Many members of the Burwell, Nelson, and Randolph families are buried here too. These were some of the "First Families of Virginia." The cemetery also has a memorial for soldiers who died in the American Civil War.
Other Churches Connected to Old Chapel
As more people moved to the area, new churches were built. In 1816, a wooden chapel was built about ten miles away. This chapel was later rebuilt as Wickliffe Church in 1853. Wickliffe Church is also a historic site today.
Christ Church, Millwood
By 1826, Old Chapel was too small for all the people. So, in 1832, Christ Church, Millwood was built. It was about three miles away. This new church was closer to Bishop Meade's home. It was also near the home of the Burwell family, who had donated the land.
Even with the new church, Old Chapel was still used. In 1853, the church leaders decided to hold services at Old Chapel at least twice a year. It was also used by the local African American community. Today, Old Chapel is still used for an Easter sunrise service and a service in September.
Christ Church Millwood was rebuilt in 1892 and again in 1947 after a big fire. The church leaders are still in charge of both Old Chapel and Christ Church.
Meade Memorial Church
In 1872, another church was started near Bishop Meade's home. This was the Meade Memorial Church in White Post. It was finished in 1875. This church was closed for nearly 30 years. But as the area grew, it reopened in 1996. It is still an active church today.
Architecture of Old Chapel
Old Chapel is made of stone. It has one story and a shingle roof. Inside, it has a simple design. There is a carved wooden pulpit and a balcony. A steep stairway leads up to the balcony. There is also a special plaque inside that remembers Bishop Meade.
Notable People Buried Here
- Colonel Nathaniel Burwell of Carter Hall (1750–1814)
- John Esten Cooke
- Ann Randolph Meade Page (1781–1838)
- Governor Edmund Randolph (1753–1813)
- The Enslaved
- Robert Cooke Goolrick (1948-2022, American writer)
